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Ephrata, WA

Permit No. 5 Fax: (509)398-9514 - E-mail: info@ephratamethodist.org

The United Methodist Church of Ephrata 117 C. Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823 - (509)754-4664

Thank you for supporting the work of the church through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness as we pursue our mission:

“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”

July 2014

Update Deadline August 20th 12:00 noon

Get your articles and announcements in!

by emailing to:

sheryl@umcephrata.org

The Update July 2014

The United Methodist

Church of Ephrata

“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”

Pastor Justin Townley

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday

8:00am to 1:00pm

www.umcephrata.org

Phone: (509)754-4664

Fax: (509)398-9514

117 C Street NW, Ephrata, WA 98823

Sunday School on break for summer

Worship Service: 10:00am

Pastor: Justin Townley…….revjustin@umcephrata.org

Administrative Assistant: Sheryl Downey…….sheryl@umcephrata.org

Custodian: Jamie Downing

Nursery Attendant: Emilie Grubb

PAGE 2

July 2014 Quilters 9am July 01 Grief Talks 6pm July 01 Happy Independence Day! July 04 Worship with Matt Prior 10am July 06 Quilters 9am July 08 Worship with Pastor Justin 10am July 13 Quilters 9am July 15 Trustees Meeting 7pm July 15 Church Council 7pm July 16 Summer Basin Sounds July 18-19 Worship 10am July 20 Quilters 9am July 22 Finance Committee 5:30pm July 22 SPR Meeting 5:30pm July 24 Worship 10am July 27 Quilters 9am July 29 Community Dinner 5:30pm July 31

DATE July 6th July 13th July 20th July 27th

Assistant

Of the Day

Lonny Holleman Merle Gibbens Mike Dell Bob Bluhm

Usher &

Greeter Mary Holleman

Louise Ingebrigtson

Vera Senn

Randy Senn

Bev Dell

Kathy Buhl

Marilyn Bluhm

Margaret Treiber

Liturgist

Camille Price Lois Gibbens Elaine Carpenter Cammy Hatch

Sound

Technician

Connor Maddalozzo Connor Maddalozzo Connor Maddalozzo Connor Maddalozzo

Coffee

Hour

Vivian Winters Ann Chandler Bev Dell Marilyn Grass

Counters

Denis Plew

Louise Ingebrigtson

Shirley Pederson

Mary Morin

Kathy Buhl

Marilyn Grass

John Morris

Margaret Treiber

Sunday

School

GRIEF TALKS

For those going through the shadows, pain, tears and fear of the grief season. Grief talks meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the Fire-side Room.

www.umcephrata.org

July Servers

Want to see this newsletter in glorious color?

PAGE 7

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of

the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2,

1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve

a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June

by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States

independent from Great Britain. After voting for independ-

ence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Inde-

pendence, a statement explaining this decision, which had

been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jeffer-

son as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the

wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A

day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife, Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch

in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be cele-

brated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festi-

val. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by

solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solem-

nized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns,

bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this conti-

nent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset,

Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown

on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather

than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was

approved in a closed session of Congress.

Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually

signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though

Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all

later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians

have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a

month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4

as is commonly believed.

In a remarkable coincidence, both John Adams and Thomas

Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence

later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the

same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the

Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Inde-

pendence, but another Founding Father who became a Presi-

dent, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the

third President in a row who died on this memorable day. Cal-

vin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872,

and, so far, is the only President to have been born on Inde-

pendence Day.

Garrison Keillor on Methodists

(submitted by Marlene Albee)

We make fun of Methodists for the bland-

ness, their excessive calm, their fear of giv-

ing offense, their lack of speed and also for

the secret fondness of macaroni and

cheese. But I do believe this: these Meth-

odists are the sort of people you could call

up when you’re in deep distress. If you’re

dying , they will comfort you. If you are

lonely, they’ll talk to you. And if you are

hungry, they’ll give you tuna salad. Meth-

odists believe in prayer, but would practi-

cally die if asked to pray out loud. Method-

ists like to sing, except when confronted

with a new hymn or a hymn with more

than four stanzas. Methodists believe

their pastors will visit them in the hospi-

tal, even if they don’t notify them that they

are there. Methodists usually follow the

official liturgy and will feel it is their way

of suffering for their sins. Methodists be-

lieve in miracles and even expect miracles,

especially during their stewardship visita-

tion programs of when passing the plate.

Methodists think that the Bible forbids

them from crossing the aisle while passing

the peace. Methodists drink coffee as if it

were the third Sacrament. Methodists feel

guilty for not staying to clean up after

their own wedding reception in the Fellow-

ship Hall. Methodists believe that it’s OK

to poke fun at themselves and never take

themselves too seriously. You know you’re

a Methodist when: You hear something

funny during the sermon and smile as

loudly as you can. Donuts are a line item in

the church budget, just like coffee. When

you watch a Star Wars movie and they say

“May the Force be with you”, and you re-

spond “and also with you.” And lastly it

takes ten minutes to say good bye!

Amen and Peace

PAGE 6

FINANCE UPDATE

In an attempt to be transparent and inform you of our financial outlook, the Finance Committee includes a monthly financial update in our church Newsletter. Please note, the giving totals for this month’s information only records giving through the end of April.

Giving to General Fund As of 04.30.2014

2014 Budget $151,425 Target to Date $50,475 Actual to Date $52,939

Giving to Building Fund As of 04.30.2014

Actual to Date $539

Apportionments Paid As of 04.30.2014

Target to Date $ 6,997 Actual to Date $ 6,864

Treasurers Report

As of 04.30.2014

Total Income $55,425 Total Expense $47,931 TOTAL DIFFERENCE $ 7,493

We thank you for your financial support of the church’s ministries and programs!

If you would like information on your giving or an update on your progress toward your financial pledge to the church, please contact the church office by phone at (509) 754-4664 or by email at: sheryl@umcephrata.org

Mary Mantz July 2nd Camille Price July 7th Ray Ryan July 7th Denis Plew July 8th Louise Sivula July 8th Bob Bluhm July 9th Randy Senn July 13th Champ Gipson July 14th Eleanor Hoople July 16th Dolores Pheasant July 17th Ralph Boyden July 18th Hazel Scobey July 18th Samantha Downing July 19th Louise Ingebrigtson July 19th Jefferson Ketchel July 22nd Gerald Smits July 23rd Donna Jancura July 26th Cameron McKnight July 26th Nolan Harvill July 27th Vonna Wendt July 30th

Late June Birthday……. Alan Fulk June 30th (sorry I goofed and forgot you, Alan)

Ken & Gail Slininger (6 years) July 5th Ray & Eleanor Hoople (66 years) July 24th Herb & Maggie Reynolds (32 years) July 31st

PAGE 3

UM Men’s Group

No UM Men’s Group meeting this month.

July 31, starting at 5:30pm. All are welcome!

Good Luck Josh!!

June 13th was Pastor Josh’s last Sun-

day with us. We were happy for him

and his new chapter in life, but sad for

us. Very few of us got through worship

without dabbing tissues to our eyes. We

pray he has a wonderful life with his

new bride, Heather, and hope he never

forgets he always has friends here in

Ephrata.

Beannachd Dia dhuit

(blessings of God be with you)

Thank you for the pictures,

Michelle Sowers!

Pictured Above: Bev Dell and Josh Mikelson holding the

cake. In the background is Mike Dell, Janis Davisson, and

Louise Sivula.

PAGE 4

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” James 5:13

One of the most wonderful gifts we are given is the gift of prayer. We can pray for one another in times of need as well as times of celebration.

Join the Prayer Chain. To receive the prayer chain by email send an email to Mary Fulk at 4fulks@homenetnw.net. To join the phone prayer chain contact Joan Jensen: 246-1691.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayers for the Military

Please let us know if someone should be added or taken off our prayer list by contacting the church office: 754-4664.

Also contact the church office if you know of someone in need of a visit by our Congregational Care Team, or Pastor Justin.

Prayers for Health, Healing,

and well-being

Vonna Wendt

Irene Gans

Louise Sivula

Shirley Johnson

Bill Nelson

Mike Cobb

Richard Hart

Margaret Kumma

Middleton Family

Mike (Barb’s friend)

Prayers for Those Suffering From

Long-Term Health Problems

Bob St. Clair Jr

Dee Gray

Bill Lowry

Lenora Walters

Ruth Walker

Hazel Scoby

Susan Smith

Mary Baird

Dick Hoyt

Bev Canfield

Ed Sivula

Ellen Fenimore

Doug Jensen

Tim Rogers

Ron Gardner

Steven Grass

Shirley Morris

Ervin Gans

Brian Davisson

Chris Wash

Kevin Harmon

Prayers of comfort

Loved ones of Jim Archer

Therefore confess your

sins to each other and

pray for each other so

that you may be healed.

The prayer of a right-

eous man is powerful

and effective.

James 5:16

Prayers for Pregnant

Moms & Their Babies

Because of our Maternity

Closet and our concern for

moms and babies, we are

asking for the congregation

to pray for those whose due

date is near and also pray

for God’s precious little

ones:

PAGE 5

Name Due Date

Yesmina July 16

Amy July 18

Shala August 14

Angela September 1

DATE July 7th July 14th July 21st July 28th

10am Diane Thompson

Cammy Hatch

Marna Kellams

Linda Bryant-

Smith

Better Rogers

Rosie Cegnar

Mary Morin

Barb Deycous

1pm Bev Dell Ann Chandler Dolores Pheasant Marilyn Grass

Maternity Closet Schedule

A big “Thank You!!” to all who helped with our Spring Cleaning Day! With so many volunteers we got a lot accomplished in just a few hours.

FOOD BANK

It will be our turn to volunteer in

the Food Bank in August. We vol-

unteer on Mondays and Thurs-

days. There is a sign-up sheet

posted on the kiosk if you would

like to volunteer.

Have a fun and safe 4th of July,

but please remember that aerial

fireworks are banned and law en-

forcement will be giving out cita-

tions instead of warnings this

year. Keep it safe and sane!